|
**********************************************************
HEALTH INSURANCE
An initiative to allow associations such as NAR to offer health coverage
to members stumbled and fell yesterday in the U.S. Congress after being
removed from a popular bill. NAR reports that House leaders still
seem willing to consider the health care initiative but need to figure out
a way to do it.
__________________________
ONLINE CONVENTION
More than 14,000 commercial real estate professionals nationwide took
part in CommercialSource.com, billed by NAR as the first-ever online
convention tailored for the commercial real estate industry.
__________________________
AUCTIONS
Potential buyers hoping for bargains at the Great South Florida Real
Estate Auction left disappointed, as the properties sold for expected
"market prices," according to attendees. In Florida and throughout
the nation, residential home auctions are becoming more popular
with sellers adjusting to a changing housing market.
__________________________
HUD
HUD officials say they back Miami-Dade County efforts to conduct a
complete review of its troubled housing agency, and will send in a team
of forensic analysts to ensure HUD funding was properly spent.
__________________________
CONSTRUCTION
Built by Clarum Homes in the parking lot of Sunset magazine's
California headquarters, this year's Sunset Celebration Idea House
is an eco-friendly house with innovative ideas for energy efficiency
and outdoor living.
**********************************************************
COMMERCIAL MERGER
A leading Florida commercial construction and development firm
has merged with one of Southwest Florida's largest commercial realty
companies. Gates McVey and D'Alessandro Woodyard have combined
to create a $1 billion company that hopes to build on joint 2006 business
projections of $500 million each. The new firm will be called Gates,
D'Alessandro Woodyard and will seek to build on the numerous
business deals and development projects the two firms have
collaborated on together over the years. The merger is believed to
be the largest of its kind in the history of Southwest Florida. Co-founder
Frank D'Alessandro says, "The key is offering clients the full menu of
services. That's site selection, entitlements, construction, property
management, sales [and] leasing." The new firm will operate branch
offices in Fort Myers and Naples.
**********************************************************
|
